The movies lied.

You don't just go back to normal two minutes after seeing a dead body for the first time. It doesn't matter who caused the death. The nausea stays with you.

I'd been in my bathroom for the past forty-five minutes, hurling my guts out. I finally had the energy the get up and wash my face. I wearily walked to my bed, feeling fainter with each step. Once I felt the support of the bed, I closed my eyes and lay down.

I really needed a nap.

»--•--«

"Ms Henderson," I felt someone vigorously patting my back.

"Yes?" I groaned.

"Axel is here to see you," Olivia said, making me sit up immediately. 

"I didn't know you were this eager to see me," Axel chuckled, and I forced a smile. I told Olivia to leave us.

"What brings you here?" I asked.

"I thought I'd grace you with my presence," he said, taking a seat by my bed.

"Well, consider me graced."

I had wanted to avoid Axel for the next few days until I was ready to ask him about what he'd done and perhaps hear his side. But I should've expected a visit from him.

"It's been a while since we saw each other," he said awkwardly. "I wanted to see how you were doing"

"Why, aren't you generous?" I mocked. I couldn't let him see that I suspected something, I needed to act normal.

"And also hear about your progress. Have you made any shocking discoveries?" he asked.

I had. But I couldn't tell him that.

"I found a group chat, with the creepy old lady," I said. Pretending as though I'd made zero progress, would be an insult to my detective skills.

"Anything of use there?" he asked.

"The lady sent it to me five years ago," I explained. "And the chat has disappearing messages, so I haven't seen the good stuff yet. But I have faith."

"Disappearing messages," he muttered. "For an old woman, she's good with technology"

"Which makes my job harder," I said. "I'm just hoping that they discuss meeting dates and locations or something, so I can follow them. Something tells me they don't trust chatting very much"

"Well, I have a better idea," he said. "If the chat isn't very helpful, make it helpful. Ask to speak with the granny and get information from her."

"But then she'll know that she hasn't sent me an invite to the chat and remove me instantly. And then I would've lost my only lead." I scoffed.

"Have you saved her number?" he inquired. I shook my head. "Then do that. So even if you do get kicked out, we can trace the number later on."

"Good idea," I mumbled as I raised my phone. 

"You can go over the previous messages," he continued. "and just say something similar to get in on the conversation."

"I don't know..." I trailed off. "Spying on the conversations seems like the better solution"

"It's your choice," he shrugged. "But if you want to get the most information out of these people, then you need to blend in with them. And besides, you were going to have to confront the old lady at some point. If she's still alive, that is."

I coughed. "What do you mean?"

"She was an old lady five years ago, she might be dead by now," he explained.

"Well, even if she's dead, these people will know about her. I hope," 

"Have faith," he placed a hand on my shoulder, making me flinch.

Axel was the boy I had known since we were kids. He wasn't always the sweetest, but he wasn't a bad person either. But now I knew that he might be the reason Denise's teenage years were ruined, and I didn't have the courage to confront him about it.

"Are you ok?" he asked with a creased eyebrow. 

"Yeah, I'm just a bit shaken up after witnessing the body today." I lied.

"Understandable. This is like the fourth killing over two months," he said, looking worried.

"Oh," 

"I guess I'll leave now. You look like you need to be alone" he chuckled.

"Yes," I agreed. "Sorry, we can catch up later"

"No problem," he said before taking his phone and leaving.

Axel was the perfect friend. He was fun to be around, a good listener and never hesitated to help. I couldn't see him as someone who would lie, cheat, or sacrifice someone else's sanity for his personal benefit. But he did. All evidence pointed to it.

No. I couldn't do this. Not now, when I was so close to achieving my goal. 

I had to focus. Take deep breaths, I told myself. I needed a distraction. Which then reminded me of the idea Axel had suggested. While I still stand by my idea that revealing myself is risky, it might be a good risk. And they're bound to find out sooner or later, so I might as well do it. I opened Telegram on my phone.

I scrolled up to the top of the conversation. 60 days ago. If I learnt what kind of conversations they had, I'd be able to blend in.

The first message said; 'Hello??'

And then no messages for two days, until a reply came: 'Carol isn't available anymore. Maybe you should try somewhere else?'

And then another day later, the first messenger replied saying: 'Tried that, but couldn't find shit.'

The rest of the messages were pretty much the same. Within one to two-day breaks, these two would message something and then disappear. Then finally, one day ago, the first person tagged the second one and said 'Tysm babe <3'. Which was the message I'd seen yesterday.

While I was away, another conversation ensued. Someone had asked the question on my mind, 'What are you thanking her for?'

But without providing any response, the person left the chat.

Remember when I said the chat was active? Apparently not. Over the last 60 days, only two people have chatted with each other and provided no information. All the more reason for me to dive in. Plus, the members seemed pretty clueless, so it shouldn't be too hard to blend in.

'Hi,' I messaged. I suppose I'd have to wait two days for a response.

In the meanwhile, I went over to the list of members in the chat. There were a total of seven members, none of them was numbers I'd saved, but there was other information I could get. I found the numbers of the latest people to message and their names were Harley and Isaac respectively. I couldn't get a hold of the first one since she'd already left the chat.

I then scrolled further and saw someone by the name of Carol. It reminded me of how at the start of the conversation, Harley and the other person were looking for Carol. It made me wonder - could Carol be the old woman?

She was the one who invited me here all those years back, and perhaps now she was inactive but others were still looking for her for some reason. It was far-fetched, but it felt... right in a way.

But Harley said it herself, Carol was inactive. Where would I go in pursuit of her? 

Harley said it herself.

How would Harley know that? What did Harley give the first person who left the chat? Could she give me the information?

I deleted my initial message from the group. The others were useless to my mission anyway. I, then privately messaged Harley. She might be more likely to see a private message.

I fiddled with my fingers as I wondered what I should say. I needed to sound professional - a no-nonsense person who shouldn't be taken lightly.

'Hi Harley, you don't know me, but I need you to do something for me. I don't expect you to do it for free of course, I can pay you well.' 

Did that sound like a no-nonsense person? No. But that didn't matter. I said I'd pay her, and that's enough to get anyone curious.

My eyes flickered as I noticed something change in my screen. Online. She was here. And then a few seconds later, seen. She'd seen the message. She wouldn't be able to resist the price.

There was no turning back now.